Reciprocally movable carrier

ABSTRACT

A reciprocally movable carrier includes several frame rods interconnecting a bottom seat and a swingable frame, a swingable mechanism having a first swing arm unit, a second swing arm unit pivoted to the bottom seat via a pivot shaft in such that the second swing arm unit is connected pivotally to the first swing arm unit and the swingable frame so that the first and second swing arm units simultaneously move when the second swing arm unit swings about the pivot shaft, a swing adjustment mechanism including a displacement member movable together with one end of the first swing arm unit along a length of the second swing arm in order to alter a distance between the end of the first swing arm unit and the pivot shaft of the second swing arm unit, thereby moving the swingable frame in forward and rearward directions or in a wavy manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a reciprocally movable carrier, and more particularly to a reciprocally movable carrier having a swingable frame which swinging angle relative to a bottom seat can be altered in wavy manner according to the desire of an occupying person.

2. The Prior Arts

Due to tension and stress of daily life, some people cannot enjoy sound sleep at nights, thereby failing to eliminate the stress and tension, which in long run can affect their health. Hence, a reciprocally movable sleeping bed has been proposed in order eliminate the problem of sleeplessness and to assist sound sleep at nights.

Taiwan Patent No. M400790 discloses a horizontally and reciprocally movable device, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which includes a bottom seat 10 having a movable frame 12 provided with a plurality of roller units 11 and a sleeper carrier 13 disposed above the movable frame 12 in such a manner that the movable frame 12 and the sleeper frame 13 move simultaneously and reciprocally relative to the bottom seat 10. In addition, a driving mechanism 20 is disposed between the movable frame 12 and the bottom seat 10, includes a driving source 21 mounted on the bottom seat 10, an eccentric shaft 22 driven by the driving source 21 and a swing arm 23 connected pivotally to the eccentric shaft 22 and the movable frame 12 in such a manner that rotation of the eccentric shaft 22 drives the swing arm 23 reciprocally in forward and rearward directions, which in turn, drives the movable frame 12 and the sleeper carrier 13 in the same manner, thereby assisting and increasing the sound sleep effects. However, people have different feeling regarding the swinging angle of the movable frame 12 and the sleeper carrier 13 with respect to the bottom seat 10 and in the event that he or she feels the swinging angle of the sleeper carrier 13 relative to the bottom seat 10 is relatively large or small such that he cannot go to sleep, he found that the swinging angle is fixed and cannot be adjusted. In other words, the preceding device cannot be adjusted in order to fulfill the requirement of each individual needs.

Therefore, the inventor has based on experiences of the relevant fields gone through a thorough research and finally has invented a reciprocally movable carrier which can eliminate the previously described drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a reciprocally movable carrier which includes: a swingable frame mounted swingably on a bottom seat; a swingable mechanism disposed between the bottom seat and the swingable frame, including a crankshaft mounted on the bottom seat and driven by a first driving source and movably connected to a first swing arm unit to move reciprocally in forward and rearward directions, a second swing arm unit mounted on the bottom seat pivotally via a pivot shaft such that the second swing arm unit is connected pivotally to one end of the first swing arm unit and the swingable frame. When the first swing arm unit is driven by the first driving source, the second swing arm unit rotates about the pivot shaft, thereby driving the swingable frame reciprocally in forward and rearward directions with respect to the bottom seat.

A second objective of the present invention is to provide a reciprocally movable carrier, in which, a plurality of frame rods interconnect the bottom seat and the swingable frame in different configurations such that the swingable frame is swingable relative to the bottom seat in forward and rearward directions with different swinging angles and/or in different wavy manner.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide a reciprocally movable carrier, which includes a swing adjustment mechanism having a displacement member that simultaneously causes movement of the end of the first swing arm unit and the second swing arm unit, thereby altering a distance between the end of the first swing arm unit and the pivot shaft of the second swing arm unit, thereby driving the first swing arm unit and the second swing unit in different swinging angles, which in turn, driving the swingable frame relative to the bottom seat in forward and rearward direction with different swinging angles and/or in different wavy manner.

A reciprocally movable carrier of the present invention includes: a bottom seat; a swingable frame mounted swingably on the bottom seat; a swingable mechanism disposed between the bottom seat and the swingable frame, including a first swing arm unit disposed on the bottom seat and driven by a first driving source, a second swing arm unit mounted pivotally on the boom seat via a pivot shaft in such a manner that the second swing arm unit is connected pivotally to one end of the first swing arm unit and the swingable frame so that the first and second swing arm units are swingable about the pivot shaft, thereby reciprocally moving the swingable frame relative to the bottom seat in forward and rearward directions; and a swing adjustment mechanism including a displacement member mounted on the second swing arm unit in such a manner to simultaneously cause movement of the end of the first swing arm unit and the displacement member relative to the bottom seat, thereby altering a distance between the end of the first swing arm unit and the pivot shaft of the second swing arm unit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a swing connection structure is disposed movably between the bottom seat and the swingable frame, includes a plurality of frame rods interconnecting the bottom seat and the swingable frame such that each lateral side of the bottom seat and the swingable frame and two of the frame rods cooperatively form a rectangular connection rod structure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each lateral side of the bottom seat and the swingable frame and two of the frame rods cooperatively form a parallel rectangular connection rod structure, wherein when the frame rods extend perpendicular to the bottom seat, the swingable frame is disposed at the highest elevation with respect to the bottom seat.

In another embodiment of the present invention, Each of the frame rods has a lower end connected to a respective one of the lateral sides of the bottom seat via a pivot pin and an upper end connected pivotally to a respective lateral side of the swingable frame such that the frame rods, the bottom seat and the swingable frame cooperatively form a non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure and the swingable frame is driven by the frame rods to move reciprocally relative to the bottom seat in different wavy manner.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom seat has a central portion provided with two parallel partitions defining a receiving space to accommodate the swingable mechanism and the swing adjustment mechanism therein.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the swingable mechanism further includes a crankshaft mounted on the bottom seat and driven by the first driving source. The first swing arm unit is connected pivotally to the crankshaft such that rotation of the crankshaft simultaneously drives the first swing arm unit reciprocally in forward and rearward directions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first driving source includes a first motor mounted on the bottom seat. The first motor has an output shaft coupled to the crankshaft via a transmission structure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission structure includes a first drive shaft and a first transmission belt trained around the first drive shaft and the output shaft of the first motor, a second drive shaft and a second transmission belt trained around the first and second drive shafts, and a third transmission belt trained around the second drive shaft and the crankshaft.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second swing arm unit has an upper end provided with a pivot shaft. The swingable frame further includes a connection element which is connected pivotally to the previous pivot shaft of the second swing arm unit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a guiding slot is formed through the second swing arm unit while a movable rod is provided to the end of the first swing arm unit such that the movable rod extends through the guiding slot. The displacement member further includes a displacement element disposed adjacent to the second swing arm unit and having a pivot end connected pivotally to the movable rod such that sliding action of the movable rod within the guiding slot simultaneously results in movement of the displacement element along a longitudinal length of the second swing arm unit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the swing adjustment mechanism further includes a second driving source having a second motor, a screw shaft driven by the second motor. The displacement element has a screw coupler sleeved rotatably around the screw shaft such that activation of the second motor results in rotation of the screw shaft, thereby driving the displacement element and the movable rod within the guiding slot in the second swing arm unit.

The reciprocally movable carrier of the present invention further includes a carrier plate disposed above the swingable frame to permit a person sleeping thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective and exploded view of a horizontally movable carrier disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. M400790;

FIG. 2 is a lateral and fragmentary view of the horizontally movable carrier disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. M400790;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and top planar view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a lateral and fragmentary cross-sectional view the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5 in motion;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5, illustrating how a swinging angle is altered;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5, illustrating how a swinging angle θ2 is altered;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5, illustrating how a swinging angle is narrowed;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5, illustrating how the swinging angle θ3 is narrowed;

FIG. 11 is a lateral view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5, illustrating two frame rods, a swingable frame and a bottom seat cooperatively form a non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure in order to move the swingable frame in a wavy manner; and

FIG. 12 is a lateral view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5, illustrating two frame rods, a swingable frame and a bottom seat cooperatively form another non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure in order to move the swingable frame in a wavy manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention includes: a bottom seat 30, a swingable frame 31, a swingable mechanism, a swing adjustment mechanism and a swing connection structure, wherein the bottom seat 30 is generally rectangle while the swingable frame 31 is mounted swingably on the bottom seat 30 in order to swing the swingable frame 31 in forward and rearward directions relative to the bottom seat 30. In this embodiment, the swing connection structure is disposed movably between the bottom seat 30 and the swingable frame 31, includes a plurality of frame rods 32 interconnecting two lateral sides of the bottom seat 30 and two lateral sides of the swingable frame 31 such that each lateral side of the bottom seat 30 and the swingable frame 31 and two of the frame rods 32 cooperatively form a rectangular connection rod structure. Under this condition, the swingable frame 31 swings horizontally in forward and rearward directions with respect to the bottom seat 30. Note that when the frame rods 32 extend perpendicularly to the bottom seat 30, the swingable frame 31 is located at the highest elevation with respect to the bottom seat 30.

In addition, the bottom seat 30 has a central portion provided with two parallel partitions 301 defining a receiving space to accommodate the swingable mechanism and the swing adjustment mechanism therein, which enable swinging action of the swingable frame 31 relative to the bottom seat 30.

The swingable mechanism further includes a crankshaft 41 having an eccentric portion 411 to which two first swing arms 42 are mounted pivotally such that rotation of the crankshaft 41 simultaneously drives the first swing arm unit 42 reciprocally in forward and rearward directions. The first driving source 40 preferably includes a first motor 401 mounted on the bottom seat 30 and having an output shaft coupled to the crankshaft 41 via a transmission structure. The transmission structure preferably includes a first drive shaft 403 and a first transmission belt 402 trained around the first drive shaft 403 and the output shaft of the first motor 401, a second drive shaft 405 and a second transmission belt 404 trained around the first and second drive shafts 403, 405, and a third transmission belt 406 trained around the second drive shaft 405 and the crankshaft 41.

The swingable mechanism is disposed between the bottom seat 30 and the swingable frame 31, further includes a second swing arm unit 43 (two second swing arms) mounted pivotally on the bottom seat 30 via a pivot shaft 431 in such a manner that the second swing arm unit 43 is connected pivotally to one end of the first swing arm unit 42 and the swingable frame 31 so that the first and second swing arm units 42, 43 are swingable about the pivot shaft 431, thereby reciprocally moving the swingable frame 31 relative to the bottom seat 30 in forward and rearward directions. In this embodiment, the end of the first swing arm unit 42 is provided with a movable rod 421 for pivotally connected with the second swing arm unit 43 such that the first swing arm 42 is movably simultaneously and reciprocally with the second swing arm unit 43. In addition, the second swing arm unit 43 has an upper end provided with a pivot shaft 433. The swingable frame 31 further includes a connection element 311 which is connected pivotally to the pivot shaft 433 such that the second swing arm unit 43 can reciprocally move the swing frame 31 in forward and rearward directions.

The swing adjustment mechanism includes a displacement member 50 mounted on the second swing arm unit 43 in such a manner to simultaneously cause movement of the movable rod 431 of the first swing arm unit 42 along a longitudinal length of the second swing arm unit 43, thereby altering a distance between the movable rod 421 of the first swing arm unit 42 and the pivot shaft 431 of the second swing arm unit 43. In other word, the first swing arm unit 42 and the second swing arm unit 43 are movable simultaneously and reciprocally in different swinging angles, and hence driving the swingable frame 31 in different swinging angles relative to the bottom seat 30. In this embodiment, a guiding slot 432 is formed through the second swing arm unit 43 such that the movable rod 421 of the first swing arm unit 42 extends through the guiding slot 432. The displacement member 50 further includes a displacement element 53 disposed adjacent to the second swing arm unit 43 and has a pivot end connected pivotally to the movable rod 421 such that sliding action of the movable rod 421 within the guiding slot 432 simultaneously results in movement of the displacement element 53 along the longitudinal length of the second swing arm unit 43. The swing adjustment mechanism further includes a second driving source having a second motor 51, a screw shaft 52 driven by the second motor 51. The displacement element 53 has a screw coupler 531 sleeved rotatably around the screw shaft 52 such that activation of the second motor 51 results in rotation of the screw shaft 52, thereby driving the displacement element 53 and moving the movable rod 421 within the guiding slot 432 in the second swing arm unit 43. In other words, the distance between the movable rod 421 of the first swing arm unit 42 and the pivot shaft 431 of the second swing arm unit 43 is adjusted so is the swinging angle (in wavy manner) of the swingable frame 31 relative to the bottom seat 30.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a carrier plate 60 is disposed above the swingable frame 31 so as to permit sleeping of person thereon such that due to regular swinging movement of the carrier plate 60 together with the swingable frame 31 (in adjusted swinging angle) relative to the bottom seat 30, the sleeping quality and effects to a sleeper is enhanced.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the reciprocally movable carrier of the present invention in application, activation of the crankshaft 41 by the first motor 401 of the first driving source 40 causes the eccentric portion 411 to move the first swing arm unit 42 reciprocally in forward and rearward directions relative to the bottom seat 30, wherein, the movable rod 421 and the second swing arm unit 43 simultaneously and reciprocally rotate about the pivot shaft 431. At this time, the eccentric portion 411 of the crankshaft 41 causes the greatest movement “L” of the first swing arm 42 while a distance “R1” is defined between the movable rod 421 of the first swing arm 42 and the pivot shaft 431 of the second swing arm 43 such that the first and second swing arm unit 42, 43 rotates reciprocally about the pivot shaft 431 within “θ1” so that the carrier plate 60 together with the swingable frame 31 (in adjusted swinging angle) move in regular swinging angle relative to the bottom seat 30, the sleeping quality and effects to a sleeper is enhanced.

FIG. 7 shows a state after the swinging angle of the swingable frame 31 relative to the bottom seat 30 is adjusted according to an individual requirement. When adjusting, the second motor 51 is activated to drive the screw shaft 52 so as to move the displacement element 53 in a downward direction of the second swing arm unit 43, which action causes rotation of the eccentric portion 411 of the crankshaft 41 and moving the movable rod 421 downward along the guiding slot 432 in the second swing arm unit 43, thereby narrowing the distance between the movable rod 421 of the first swing arm unit 42 and the pivot shaft 431 of the second swing arm unit 43 to “R2”.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the first motor 401 of the first driving source 40 is activated, the crankshaft 41 is driven such that the eccentric portion 411 drives the first swing arm unit 42 reciprocally in forward and rearward directions relative to the bottom seat 30, which action causes rotation of the second swing arm unit 43 about the pivot shaft 431 due to downward movement of the movable rod 421 in the guiding slot 432. At this time, the eccentric portion 411 of the crankshaft 41 causes the greatest movement “L” of the first swing arm 42 while the smallest distance “R2” is defined between the movable rod 421 of the first swing arm 42 and the pivot shaft 431 of the second swing arm 43 such that the first and second swing arm unit 42, 43 rotates reciprocally about the pivot shaft 431 within “θ2” so that the carrier plate 60 together with the swingable frame 31 move in regular swinging angle (greater than that of FIG. 6) relative to the bottom seat 30, the sleeping quality and effects to a sleeper is enhanced.

Referring to FIG. 9, in case the user of the reciprocal movable carrier of the present invention wishes to narrow the swinging angle of the swingable frame 31, he can activate the second motor 51 so as to drive the screw shaft 52, thereby causing upward movement of the displacement element 53 relative to the second swing arm unit 43, which action causes rotation of the eccentric portion 411 of the crankshaft 41, where the movable rod 421 moves upward along the guiding slot 432 in the second swing arm unit 43 so that a distance of “R3” is defined between the movable rod 421 of the first swing arm 42 and the pivot shaft 431 of the second swing arm 43.

As best shown in FIG. 10, when the first motor 401 of the first driving source 40 is activated, the crankshaft 41 is driven such that the eccentric portion 411 drives the first swing arm unit 42 reciprocally in forward and rearward directions relative to the bottom seat 30, which action causes rotation of the second swing arm unit 43 about the pivot shaft 431 due to upward movement of the movable rod 421 in the guiding slot 432. At this time, the eccentric portion 411 of the crankshaft 41 causes the greatest movement “L” of the first swing arm 42 while the greatest distance “R3” is defined between the movable rod 421 of the first swing arm 42 and the pivot shaft 431 of the second swing arm 43 such that the first and second swing arm unit 42, 43 rotates reciprocally about the pivot shaft 431 within a small swinging angle “θ3” where the carrier plate 60 together with the swingable frame 31 move in the small swinging angle relative to the bottom seat 30, thereby meeting the desired angle of an individual requirement using the reciprocal movable carrier of the present invention and hence the sleeping quality and effects to a sleeper is enhanced.

FIG. 11 is a lateral view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention, illustrating the frame rods 32 connected pivotally the swingable frame 31 and the bottom seat 31 to form a non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure in order to move the swingable frame in a wavy manner. In this embodiment, the non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure has an upper part and a lower part having a width smaller than the upper part.

FIG. 12 is a lateral view of the reciprocally movable carrier according to the present invention, illustrating the frame rods 32 connected pivotally the swingable frame 31 and the bottom seat 31 to form a non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure different from that shown in FIG. 11. In this embodiment, the non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure has an upper part and a lower part having a width greater than the upper part.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A reciprocally movable carrier including: a bottom seat; a swingable frame mounted swingably on the bottom seat; a swingable mechanism disposed between the bottom seat and the swingable frame in such a manner to reciprocally moving the swingable frame relative to the bottom seat in forward and rearward directions; and a swing connection structure disposed movably between the bottom seat and the swingable frame, including a plurality of frame rods interconnecting two lateral sides of the bottom seat and two lateral sides of the swingable frame such that each lateral side of the bottom seat and the swingable frame and two of the frame rods cooperatively form a rectangular connection rod structure.
 2. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the frame rods has an upper end and a lower end respectively and pivotally connected to the swingable frame and the bottom seat, thereby forming a parallel rectangular connection rod structure.
 3. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the frame rods has a lower end connected to a respective one of the lateral sides of the bottom seat via a pivot pin and an upper end connected pivotally a respective lateral side of the swingable frame such that the frame rods, the bottom seat and the frame rods cooperatively form a non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure.
 4. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 3, wherein the non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure has an upper part and a lower part having a width smaller than the upper part.
 5. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 3, wherein the non-parallel rectangular connection rod structure has an upper part and a lower part having a width greater than the upper part.
 6. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 1, further comprising a swing adjustment mechanism including a first swing arm unit mounted pivotally on the bottom seat so as to be driven by a first driving source, a second swing arm unit pivotally connected to the bottom seat via a pivot shaft such that said second arm unit is pivotally connected to one end of the first swing arm unit and the swingable frame in such a manner to cause simultaneous movement of the end of the first swing arm unit and the second swing arm unit relative to the bottom seat, thereby altering a distance between the end of the first swing arm unit and the pivot shaft of the second swing arm unit.
 7. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 6, wherein the bottom seat has a central portion provided with two parallel partitions defining a receiving space to accommodate the swingable mechanism and the swing adjustment mechanism therein.
 8. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 6, wherein the swingable mechanism further includes a crankshaft mounted on the bottom seat and driven by the first driving source, the first swing arm unit being pivotally connected to the crankshaft such that rotation of the crankshaft simultaneously drives the first swing arm unit reciprocally in forward and rearward directions.
 9. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 8, wherein the first driving source includes a first motor mounted on the bottom seat, the first motor having an output shaft coupled to the crankshaft via a transmission structure.
 10. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 9, wherein the transmission structure includes a first drive shaft and a first transmission belt trained around the first drive shaft and the output shaft of the first motor, a second drive shaft and a second transmission belt trained around the first and second drive shafts, and a third transmission belt trained around the second drive shaft and the crankshaft.
 11. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 6, wherein the second swing arm unit has an upper end provided with a pivot shaft, the swingable frame further including a connection element which is connected pivotally to the pivot shaft.
 12. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 6, wherein a guiding slot is formed along longitudinal length of the second swing arm unit, a movable rod being provided to the end of the first swing arm unit such that the movable rod extends through the guiding slot, the displacement member further including a displacement element disposed adjacent to the second swing arm unit and having a pivot end connected pivotally to the movable rod such that sliding action of the movable rod within the guiding slot simultaneously results in movement of the displacement element together with the movable rod.
 13. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 12, wherein the swing adjustment mechanism further includes a second driving source, a screw shaft, a second motor for driving the screw shaft, the displacement element having a screw coupler sleeved rotatably around the screw shaft such that activation of the second motor results in rotation of the screw shaft, thereby driving the displacement element and the movable rod within the guiding slot in the second swing arm unit.
 14. The reciprocally movable carrier according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier plate disposed above the swingable frame. 